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Reviews For: Ten-Tec Model 238

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : Ten-Tec Model 238
Reviews: 31MSRP: 445.00
Description:
10-160 L network Antenna Tuner
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.tentec.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00314.4
K8QT Rating: 2000-09-02
I like it........ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It was a great deal compared to other high power tuners. At this point in time, it was the only reasonably priced tuner I could find with a company that had a reputation for quality behind them. I state again "in this price range I could fine nothing better"

I did take the cover off to look inside -- an earlier review posted on this web-site had me curious to see the inside! I had to see how it looked. Considering Tentec in their manual tells you that "taking the cover off does not void the warranty" My hesitation vanished and instilled further curiosity to see what it looked like. So out came the sheet metal screws and up came the cover.

There was "Nothing Yellow" in there. It was nice, bite, clean and silver looking all over. Just like one would expect it to be. There was nothing loose, not a rattle to be heard, lights work fine. I urge all to relax and go ahead with your purchase. It was a great feeling getting this in line and in use. Especially after looking inside!

How does it tune? Works Great on a Carolina Windom! This is one fine tuner with styling and looks! I am proud to own it.

AC5AA Rating: 2000-08-01
Simple tuner - works great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've used my Model 238 for well over a year not to tune an HF2V vertical on bands it wasn't designed to work on, and a G5RV Jr. the same way. Settings are repeatable (+/- normal small weather variations) and it works very well whether I'm running barefoot or 1500W through it. Gets the job done, and I have a perfect match in all cases except one - 17m on the HF2V can be brought to 1.3:1 as minimum. Still, very good. I recommend the tuner.

Regarding W4DLB's review below, if his tuner were purchased new, TT would have replaced or repaired it under warrantee. They are excellent at that (although I'm surprised at the problems he noted). If it was used, TT can still provide help. I've been impressed with their support the few times I've needed it.



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Earlier 5-star review posted by AC5AA on 1999-12-14

I have been using the Model 238 KW tuner now for about a year and find it to be an excellent unit. It matches well on 160m all the way thru 10m and I have some interesting loads (like a G5RV Jr. on 20m - 10m and an HF2V vertical for 160, 80, 40, and 15m.) The 238 gets the job done and does not have myriad tuning points like some tuners do. The 238 is an "L" match and handles 1500W. I have run 1 kW RTTY through it, and use it for all bands except 40m where my HF2V is naturally resonant. (Req'd for 40m phone, however.) I find the SWR bridge built into the tuner to be not very helpful, but my Omni VI+ and my Autek WM-1 both take care of that chore anyway. An excellent tuner, and it's pretty too - not of the bland "paint it black/grey" mold.
W4DLB Rating: 2000-07-25
Not Happy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I looked forward to receiving my 238 since it had received such high paise here, only to find problems with it the first time I used it.
When I applied power to the lamps, only one lit. Opening the unit, I discovered a lamp holder loosely held in place by a stripped screw/nut. Obviously, this was done during assembly. I tried to tighten the assembly to no avail. I ended up using a self tapping screw since disassembling the face of the unit to replace the nut looked like a bigger job than I had time to tackle. All this wasn't so bad until I looked at the roller inductor. Maybe it is supposed to be varying shades of copper rather than the silver coating observed in some places, or maybe it was just some orange colored tarnish (which I doubt). Either way, I am not connecting it to my amp. It has been sitting on a shelf collecting dust until I get a chance to send it back for a refund. Maybe this was a "Friday afternoon" unit, but I would think that sending out a unit that "rattles" would catch even the laziest of quality control's attention...
K0ZP Rating: 2000-05-03
No fancy bells or whistles just work everytime. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Plain and simple and it works good. Only giving it a 4 star becasue tentec needs to update the meters to todays standard!!! The return for setting are very precise and consistent!
W9WIS Rating: 2000-04-19
Another winner from Ten-Tec ! Time Owned: unknown months.
I've owned the 238 for about 3 years now and love it. I sold my Nye MB tuner....... this Ten-Tec "L" tuner works the best. It's smaller, looks great, never arcs in my application, and is very "repeatable" in it's logging settings enabling you to return to various parts of the band. The other thing I really like is that there is very little loss in the tuner and that the "L" only tunes for minimum swr in one place...unlike other style tuners. I guess you'd expect these comments from an overall Ten-Tec fan but their reputation is well earned !
KF3DG Rating: 2000-04-17
THE only tuner worth buying Time Owned: unknown months.
Simply put........THE best tuner I have ever used. (My Nye Viking and MFJ will be for sale on my table at Dayton). I run 1300 watts all the time,and the 238 handles it with ease from 160 thru 10. No heating or arcing , just flawless performance. Hats off to Ten Tec.
N1EU Rating: 2000-03-28
Simply Great Time Owned: unknown months.
No bells and whistles, just works beautifully. When I needed to replace one of the ceramic discs, Ten-Tec had it in my mailbox in two days, no charge. Run 1KW all the time, and it handles all my antenna switching mistakes, no problem. Highly recommended.
N5IFH Rating: 2000-03-27
Ten Tec Model 238 Time Owned: unknown months.
No need for a long dissertation....if you desire a tuner that just plain works...the Ten Tec Model 238 is it!
W0CKI Rating: 2000-03-27
The Best Available Time Owned: unknown months.
I have used it for a year, consistently run 1500 watts thru it on all bands, never arcs, always tunes up at almost the same stting every time, wx may change it slightly. But the big plus is the folks at Ten Tec are the absolute best in th Ham Radio business, responsive, knowledgeable and will stand by their products. Try getting that kind of service from the Icom, Yaesu and Kenwood guys. Of course you can always count on MFJ, THE JUNK DEALERS!!!
W2ATO Rating: 2000-03-27
Correction to my post. Time Owned: unknown months.
The rating should have been 5---not 3 as indicated by mistake.

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Earlier 3-star review posted by W2ATO on 2000-03-27

I have been using two of these Model 238 tuners on my alpha amplifiers for several years with
no problems and very excellant results. I have been using coax and ladder line feed lines
The Ten Tec company is the best for service and knowledge of their products.